Ecuador Aviation: liberalising and courting LCCs

Analysis

Growth among Ecuador’s airlines has slowed during the last few years based on seat deployment as the country dipped into a recession during 2016. Even as it returned to positive economic growth in 2017, Ecuador’s growth prospects remain below historical levels for 2018 and 2019.

Ecuador’s largest airline state-owned TAME has also cut its seat supply during the last few years, and more recently has undertaken a restructuring with loans from the government as it pledges to bolster revenue and slash costs.

Low cost airline penetration in Ecuador remains low. JetBlue offers service from Fort Lauderdale to the country’s largest airport, Quito, and Spirit in Mar-2018 launched flights form Fort Lauderdale to the country’s second largest airport, Guayaquil. Even as Ecuador holds promise for passenger stimulation, expansion of air travel could remain tempered until its economic growth returns to more normal levels.

Summary

After Ecuador has emerged from a recession, its economic growth remains below historical levels.

As Ecuador’s economy grew weaker, available seats in the market have dwindled.

The country’s flag airline TAME is undertaking a restructuring as Ecuador adopts a liberalised mindset, with a new open skies policy.

Low cost airline penetration in Ecuador remains low, but the US ULCC Spirit recently launched flights to the country, and the government is working to court LCCs to launch service to the country.

Even as Ecuador's recession is over, its economic growth remains sluggish

The major economic headlines from Latin American during the past few years have centred on Brazil’s recession and emergence from economic decline.

But as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) highlights – Ecuador is also emerging from a recession. Its data show Ecuador’s GDP declined 1.6% year-on-year in 2016 before rebounding to an increase of 2.7% in 2017. The IMF’s projections for GDP growth in Ecuador for 2018 and 2019 are 2.5% and 2.2%, respectively.

The IMF characterises Ecuador’s forecast 2018 GDP growth as below historical averages. Data from the World Bank show that between 2006 and 2015 Ecuador’s GDP averaged 4.3%, driven by high oil prices and external financing. Oil exports are a significant driver of Ecuador’s economy.

The shrinking of Ecuador’s economic growth coincided with a decline of airline seat capacity in the country. Data from CAPA and OAG show that the country’s system seats declined approximately 21% from 2013 to 2018 (estimated).

* The values for this year are at least partly predictive up to 6 months from 04-Jun-2018 and may be subject to change.

Ecuador’s recent economic decline was driven by several factors, including the decline of the USD (which is the country’s currency), declining oil prices, and an earthquake that struck the country’s Northeast cost in Apr-2016. The World Bank calculates that between 2014 and 2016, urban unemployment in Ecuador grew from 4.5% to 6.5%.

To overturn its losses, TAME has undertaken a restructuring plan that reportedly entails loans and support from the government of more than USD80 million. Its fleet size has decreased from 15 to 10 aircraft.

The airline has touted its improved operational performance, and has also added service from Quito to Puerto Francisco, Lago Agrio and Santa Rosa. It has also added fights from Quito and Guayaquil to Bogotá. TAME’s other international destinations include Fort Lauderdale (from Guayaquil), New York JFK (from Quito), Cali (Esmeraldas) and Lima (Quito).

At one point the government was seeking investors for TAME, but investors may not come forward until the airline shows a level of sustained profitability. Ecuador’s slower economic growth compared with other countries in the region could also be a deterrent to an investor for TAME stepping forward.

Ecuador's government adopts open skies and tries to court low cost airlines

Even as Ecuador’s overall seating capacity has declined during the past few years, much upside remains for the country if the government can jumpstart economic growth.

Ecuador’s government has reportedly held discussions with the Chilean low cost airline Sky but so far, no new service to Chile has materialised. LATAM Airlines Group operates service from Santiago to Guayaquil, but ended flights to Quito in 2015. GOL is also reportedly considering launching flights from São Paulo to Quito, but has yet to announce plans to launch service on the pairing.

In many ways, Ecuador’s aviation market is undergoing a transition. The country itself is slowly emerging from an economic slump, and the government is showing a more liberalised mindset with the adoption of an open skies policy, which is a welcome sign for the evolution of Latin America’s larger aviation market.

At the same time, Ecuador’s state-owned flag carrier is undertaking work to become more competitive in the market, and the government does not appear to be adopting a protectionist stance in order to shield TAME from competitive forces.

There is no doubt that the evolution of Ecuador’s market has much upside, and the government has taken many important steps to make the country more attractive in order to bolster tourism and connectivity.

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